Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians (@ mentions)

[fryjack2]

I don't share much personal stuff on here but I'm sure someone can piece together a lot from my posts.

I live just outside a major city in a town with a large Jewish population. Some of my closest friends from living here, and my children's closest friends are Jewish. I have been sending them messages of support over the last few days and sent more today due to the latest messaging around threats. Every single one of them has told me that I am the only non-Jewish person who has reached out to them. Every single one. And they share their horror at what is happening in both Israel and Gaza.

I don't know what that says other than a better job could be done supporting those who are hurting when they are hurting and speaking out when wrongs are committed.

I hope that no threats are substantiated today and we all, especially those in the Jewish community where these threats are being directed remain physically safe. My area has increased patrols around religious venues and schools and is on higher alert. It also canceled the Palestinian film festival that was supposed to start tonight due to concerns over the safety of the attendees and is also on higher alert for potential acts against Muslim religious venues.

Its all so heartbreaking.

[goldengirlz]

Oct 13, 2023 6:03:34 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also, I am not quite sure where to put this so I’ll stick it here, but I am deeply uncomfortable with the local actions and rhetoric here in NYC. Every active NYPD officer must be in uniform today. People on social media are acting like fools as usual and spreading misinformation about “global jihad” happening today. This is just out of control at this point and all I feel it is doing is alienating the thousands of Arab, Muslim and/or Palestinian American residents who live here.

@@@

My kids’ school also has sizable Jewish and Arab/Muslim populations so I have no idea what to expect today. Will people who I feel shouldn’t be worried at all keep their kids home as people are saying (one idiot said or course something will happen, it’s Friday the 13th…). Or, more likely and understandable, will Jewish and Arab families keep their kids home for their personal safety? And then for how long? What a nightmare. Obviously this is a war with very global implications but the whole situation locally is just reminding me of post-9/11, but I think a lot of it is being influenced by some really uncomfortably strong rhetoric from electeds especially (very much good vs. evil-like rhetoric without clarifying that Palestinian civilians are not evil).

@@@

I posted in the other thread about how the comments — which were said by a former Hamas leader — seem to be mostly blowing up on right-wing and social media.

Every Jew I know understands that.

People are scared anyway. They want to see a heavier police presence around Jewish institutions, especially schools and daycares. Do you expect parents to send their kids to be sitting ducks in a country where gun violence is a very real risk on an average day?

I understand “jihad” just means protest, not necessarily violent protest. But it could just as easily be some white supremacist with an ax to grind and a desire for 10 minutes of notoriety.

And yes, I also think Muslim institutions should have heavier security as well. For the same reason.

[Velar Fricative]

goldengirlz, apologies if I wasn’t clear about the threat. I did mention Jewish and Arab families have every reason to be scared. But what I’m seeing locally are right-wingers talking about jihad and the open border and these are also the same people who thought Covid was a hoax and told people to stop living in fear. Not to mention my state assemblyman just posted this very same nonsense about jihad and how it’s coming from the border and be very very scared, etc. Of course people have every right to be scared…but the language being used is highly inflammatory which will only cause more fear among Jews and Arabs here.

[goldengirlz]

Oct 13, 2023 8:54:25 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

goldengirlz, apologies if I wasn’t clear about the threat. I did mention Jewish and Arab families have every reason to be scared. But what I’m seeing locally are right-wingers talking about jihad and the open border and these are also the same people who thought Covid was a hoax and told people to stop living in fear. Not to mention my state assemblyman just posted this very same nonsense about jihad and how it’s coming from the border and be very very scared, etc. Of course people have every right to be scared…but the language being used is highly inflammatory which will only cause more fear among Jews and Arabs here.

I agree that people are using this for their own political gain.

But I was responding to you saying the increased police presence is ridiculous. I’m sure Adams — especially with the echoes of 9/11 — is under a lot of pressure right now.

[hermione]

Oct 13, 2023 8:19:24 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

I don't share much personal stuff on here but I'm sure someone can piece together a lot from my posts.

I live just outside a major city in a town with a large Jewish population. Some of my closest friends from living here, and my children's closest friends are Jewish. I have been sending them messages of support over the last few days and sent more today due to the latest messaging around threats. Every single one of them has told me that I am the only non-Jewish person who has reached out to them. Every single one. And they share their horror at what is happening in both Israel and Gaza.

I don't know what that says other than a better job could be done supporting those who are hurting when they are hurting and speaking out when wrongs are committed.

I hope that no threats are substantiated today and we all, especially those in the Jewish community where these threats are being directed remain physically safe. My area has increased patrols around religious venues and schools and is on higher alert. It also canceled the Palestinian film festival that was supposed to start tonight due to concerns over the safety of the attendees and is also on higher alert for potential acts against Muslim religious venues.

Its all so heartbreaking.

Thank you for posting this. I made it a point to set aside my, “I don’t know what to say” fears and reach out to my friends impacted by these horrors (on both sides) this morning. All three said the same thing - that I’m the only outside person to do so. Shame on me for waiting so long.

[pixy0stix]

To recap key updates this morning (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/13/israel-gaza-war-updates-hamas-palestine/):

1 - Israel has told Gaza residents to leave the northern half of Gaza. This area holds over 1 million residents. To help facilitate the message, Israel has dropped leaflets in the area. Hamas is urging residents to not comply, stating that the warning is psychological warfare only.

2 - A growing list of organizations that typically provide aid in war torn areas are saying unequivocally that Israel is committing international humanitarian law crimes. The orgs are also stating that they can't get aid into the area. Israel has demanded that such orgs leave Gaza.

3 - Egypt solidified it's message, and is allowing aid to mass along their corridor (Rafah border crossing). They have said that aid can't cross the border because Israel bombed the area and it is now effectively sealed. I haven't seen news on what is being done to open the area.

4 - The US is working to identify "safe zones" in Gaza. No word on how that is going.

[karinothing]

How are Americans getting out of Gaza? I know that as pixy0stix, mentioned they were advised to go to Rafah, which is closed. But is Israel not letting Americans exit into Israel? Maybe there is no feasible way to do this. I admit I don't really understand how/where Americans entered or exited Gaza prior to this.

[pixy0stix]

Oct 13, 2023 9:58:15 GMT -5 karinothing said:

How are Americans getting out of Gaza? I know that as pixy0stix , mentioned they were advised to go to Rafah, which is closed. But is Israel not letting Americans exit into Israel? Maybe there is no feasible way to do this. I admit I don't really understand how/where Americans entered or exited Gaza prior to this.

www.npr.org/2023/10/12/1205357394/american-family-trapped-gaza

ETA another article: www.nytimes.com/2023/10/13/nyregion/palestinian-americans-gaza-israel-war.html

From what I'm getting is that there is no passage from Gaza for American citizens. 

[karinothing]

Oct 13, 2023 10:03:45 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Oct 13, 2023 9:58:15 GMT -5 karinothing said:

How are Americans getting out of Gaza? I know that as pixy0stix , mentioned they were advised to go to Rafah, which is closed. But is Israel not letting Americans exit into Israel? Maybe there is no feasible way to do this. I admit I don't really understand how/where Americans entered or exited Gaza prior to this.

www.npr.org/2023/10/12/1205357394/american-family-trapped-gaza

From what I'm getting is that there is no passage from Gaza for American citizens. 

Yeah that is kind of what I have been seeing. I guess I don't know what the answer is. American working with Israel to let Americans only out looks horrible given all the other innocent folks that are trapped. I don't know that israel even wants to put the manpower in to do that and America probably doesn't want to put boots on the ground to do it. 

[sonrisa]

The phrase that keeps going through my head is the title of a book about Rwanda's genocide: "We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families." (The quote is from Tutsis trapped in a church before being murdered). The scale of all this is unimaginable. 

[sonrisa]

Oct 13, 2023 10:05:54 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Oct 13, 2023 10:03:45 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

www.npr.org/2023/10/12/1205357394/american-family-trapped-gaza

From what I'm getting is that there is no passage from Gaza for American citizens. 

Yeah that is kind of what I have been seeing. I guess I don't know what the answer is. American working with Israel to let Americans only out looks horrible given all the other innocent folks that are trapped. I don't know that israel even wants to put the manpower in to do that and America probably doesn't want to put boots on the ground to do it. 

It would be pretty standard for American evacuation efforts. There are always other innocent people left behind. 

[karinothing]

Oct 13, 2023 10:13:29 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Oct 13, 2023 10:05:54 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Yeah that is kind of what I have been seeing. I guess I don't know what the answer is. American working with Israel to let Americans only out looks horrible given all the other innocent folks that are trapped. I don't know that israel even wants to put the manpower in to do that and America probably doesn't want to put boots on the ground to do it. 

It would be pretty standard for American evacuation efforts. There are always other innocent people left behind. 

Yeah, that is true. 

[seeyalater52]

Oct 13, 2023 7:29:32 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

While I think that a lot of the calls for global jihad are fake and likely posted by people trying to sow discord and to ramp up both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic sentiments than anyone actually planning something, I also don’t blame Jewish or Muslim people for feeling frightened or for synagogues, mosques, or religious schools and other institutions increasing security. We don’t have to look far to find deep hatred and recent terroristic acts against both groups.

100%.

[wawa]

I'm almost jealous of people who feel like they can unequivocally "stand with Israel"
It'd be nice to be so sure of something in the face of such a fucked up situation.
I whole heartedly stand with the citizens of Israel and the Jewish people everywhere facing threats and the very real fears this situation is raising.
I also stand with innocent Palestinians in Gaza trapped in a absolutely horrific situation.
I think Hamas is a terrorist organization who has committed absolute atrocities and has landed on a awful effective tactic of using citizen targets as shields. The world would be better without them.
I think the Israeli government is in a situation at this point where they don't see a better solution that makes any sense and has decided the ends are worth the means when it comes to committing humanitarian crimes.
As a fucking random american who's entire expertise on the matter is that I read some books about it a few years ago I certainly don't have any answers for "if not this, then what" but I'm never going to be able to bring myself around to fully supporting a government's decision to bomb known civilian targets in an area that effectively CAN'T evacuate - no matter how much sympathy I have for the constant danger and pressure they exist under or how much support i have for their right to exist at all.

I also think it's fucking weird that the thing now is that everybody and their sister - companies, generally non-political public figures and just normal ass people on facebook are all expected to make a public statement about this situation. (and every other tragic moment in the world that makes the national news) It feels deeply performative and I hate it. Extra special now that we've reached the stage that people are apologizing for not having made a statement sooner.

[Deleted]

‘Stunning State Department Memo Warns Diplomats: No Gaza 'De-Escalation' Talk

As Israel escalates its attacks on Gaza, the State Department is discouraging diplomats working on Middle East issues from making public statements suggesting the U.S. wants to see less violence, according to internal emails viewed by HuffPost.

In messages circulated on Friday, State Department staff wrote that high-level officials do not want press materials to include three specific phrases: “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed” and “restoring calm.”’

www.huffpost.com/entry/state-department-internal-emails-gaza-israel_n_65296395e4b0a304ff6ff95d?ykm

[seeyalater52]

Oct 13, 2023 11:34:52 GMT -5 @iceblink said:

‘Stunning State Department Memo Warns Diplomats: No Gaza 'De-Escalation' Talk

As Israel escalates its attacks on Gaza, the State Department is discouraging diplomats working on Middle East issues from making public statements suggesting the U.S. wants to see less violence, according to internal emails viewed by HuffPost.

In messages circulated on Friday, State Department staff wrote that high-level officials do not want press materials to include three specific phrases: “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed” and “restoring calm.”’

www.huffpost.com/entry/state-department-internal-emails-gaza-israel_n_65296395e4b0a304ff6ff95d?ykm

I have no words. What the actual fuck.

[fryjack2]

Israel is citing off Internet access tonight.

There is no electricity, water, fuel, food.

No one is being let in.

Israel is telling Aid organizations to leave.

Exits are bombed. People saying Egypt should help and they have sent aid and Israel said they will bomb them if they do.

People are walking to the south to avoid the north. with no water. no food.

Israel is creating an environment that doesn't allow the world to see or hear what is happening in Gaza from inside Gaza. It is purposefully cutting off the world from knowing as they perform ethnic cleansing of the trapped Gazan people.

I can't post any more. I can't continue to try to have conversations and try to share about Palestinian history and life and have it negated and what abouted and justified because of the holocaust (somewhat here and for sure IRL). Nothing justifies terrorism and nothing justifies genocide. Antisemitism exists. Anti-palestinian sentiment exists.

My heart is with the innocent Jewish people living in fear here and abroad and those held captive by Hamas and their families and with the innocent Palestinians saying goodbye to their families right now because they know they are waiting for their deaths. And those, like my family in the West Bank who are under further restrictions and anxious for what's to come.

[aurora]

The evacuation order is terrifying.

[sonrisa]

Does anyone have a list of which members of congress have signed this?

www.politico.com/news/2023/10/13/progressive-lawmakers-letter-biden-israel-00121463

[Bad Dingo]

Oct 13, 2023 13:48:47 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Does anyone have a list of which members of congress have signed this?

www.politico.com/news/2023/10/13/progressive-lawmakers-letter-biden-israel-00121463

jayapal.house.gov/2023/10/13/schakowsky-pocan-jayapal-mcgovern-lead-55-members-in-letter-condemning-hamas-attacks-urging-protection-of-innocent-civilian-lives/

[bugandbibs]

fryjack2 💜💜💜

[jlt19]

fryjack2, do you have an organization that you feel is the best to donate to at this time, or one close to your heart? My work has a match program and via a search, I found the Israel-Palestine Crisis Fund, but I also don't know my organizations vetting process. This is really all I could find online for it:
charity.org/emergencies/israel-palestine-crisis-fund/

*Disclaimer for all: I am not choosing sides, I am heartbroken for all Israelis, Palestinians, Jews, Muslims, their families, their histories, all of it. I just feel, at this moment, that I need to contribute to those seeking to help the hostages of Hamas. Because quite frankly, that is what 2 million Palestinians are, in additions to those abducted from Israel.

[fryjack2]

This is the organization that we have had monthly donations sent to from our DAF for years. I know aid is very challenging right now but we just sent a large donation and upped our monthly auto ones.

It’s a nonpolitical, non religious well respected humanitarian aid group.

www.pcrf.net/

Thank you so much for considering. I can send more but that’s the one close to my heart as a pediatric healthcare provider.

[ohgillian]

Oct 16, 2023 9:15:39 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

This is the organization that we have had monthly donations sent to from our DAF for years. I know aid is very challenging right now but we just sent a large donation and upped our monthly auto ones.

It’s a nonpolitical, non religious well respected humanitarian aid group.

www.pcrf.net/

Thank you so much for considering. I can send more but that’s the one close to my heart as a pediatric healthcare provider.

May I also suggest Anera, for people looking to support more than one organization? (not instead of what fryjack2 suggested). It's an organization I have supported financially for years. 


www.anera.org/what-we-do/

[quesyrah]

I just heard the news of two victims of a hate crime in Chicago (one was @@@@@@).

They had been so worried about their family in Palestine, and had no idea the danger they were in in their own home. They were senselessly attacked by their landlord.

It’s just heartbreaking.

Thank you to those who have posted organizations to donate to.

[fryjack2]

My feelings are all over the place.

Jordan and Egypt won't take in the people of Gaza as refugees. They say that the conflict needs to be resolved in Gaza. I understand why. If all the Gazans leave, there is no way Israel will let them back in. Even after they supposedly rid it of Hamas as they claim they are trying to do so that Gazans can come back safely. There is no reason to believe them when we see what happens with continued settlement building and the sentiment right now of taking over Gaza and naming it Nova that I have seen shared one too many times.

On the other hand, if no one lets them in, they will certainly be dead in the next few days. Some of them have resolved after the past 9 days that that is their fate and won't leave their home like their ancestors did in the Nakba of '48. My heartbreaks for them knowing that they are pawns for people in power and that they know that, too.

@@@@@

I feel so helpless and so guilty that I am here and can't be there in their hospitals helping all the injured children and babies I keep seeing footage of.

My children's guardians are one of closest friends and are practicing Jews ( I hope that doesn't sound like "I have Jewish friends!"). We had dinner this weekend and I warned them that I may leave to go help if the chance comes about and were they still ok being the kids' guardians if H came with me and we didn't come back.

And also, F Netanyahu for tweeting that this is a struggle between the children of Israel who are the light and the children of Palestine who are the darkness. Between humanity and jungle of law. What the actual fuck.

I don't know what the point of this post is other than to just voice despair.

[jamaicam]

fryjack2, I am so sorry you had to have that conversation. You remain in my thoughts. And thank you so much for continuing to share with us as so much of the media is not sharing the Palestinian story.

[underwaterrhymes]

fryjack2 - I’m so sorry.

[laladypoet]

I do apologize if this has already been shared but here’s a link on how to help from the US:https://uscpr.org/

I did scroll and didn’t see it but again I’m sorry if this has already been shared.

[pixy0stix]

I changed the title to reflect that we've been mentioning @'s throughout the thread without tagging. (not faulting anyone, just a bit of clean up)